KnowKi

Learn the wildlife of marine protected areas

Learn the wildlife of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary

CA

4,290 species have research-grade observations in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary on iNaturalist. KnowKi turns the most recorded into short lessons with real photos, from fish and seabirds to the life along the shore.

Waters off the central California coast, from Marin County to Cambria.

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Āki the kiwi, KnowKi's guide

Most recorded here

The species with the most research-grade observations on iNaturalist, and how many each has. Most recorded doesn't mean native.

Birds

  1. Western Gull Larus occidentalis11,268
  2. Brown Pelican Pelecanus occidentalis9,200
  3. Brandt's Cormorant Urile penicillatus5,687
  4. Heermann's Gull Larus heermanni4,767
  5. Common Murre Uria aalge3,796
  6. Black Oystercatcher Haematopus bachmani3,738
  7. Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias3,313
  8. Surf Scoter Melanitta perspicillata3,280
  9. Hudsonian Whimbrel Numenius hudsonicus2,955
  10. Great Egret Ardea alba2,952

Plants

  1. Seaside daisy Erigeron glaucus3,541
  2. Monterey paintbrush Castilleja latifolia2,770
  3. European Searocket Cakile maritima2,571
  4. Coastal bush lupine Lupinus arboreus2,182
  5. Seaside woolly sunflower Eriophyllum staechadifolium2,161
  6. Yellow Sand Verbena Abronia latifolia2,047
  7. California poppy Eschscholzia californica1,967
  8. Coastal sagewort Artemisia pycnocephala1,746
  9. Orange bush monkeyflower Diplacus aurantiacus1,714
  10. Common yarrow Achillea millefolium1,691

Mammals

  1. Harbor Seal Phoca vitulina9,197
  2. California Sea Lion Zalophus californianus8,408
  3. Sea Otter Enhydra lutris8,347
  4. Humpback Whale Megaptera novaeangliae5,207
  5. California Ground Squirrel Otospermophilus beecheyi2,293
  6. Northern Elephant Seal Mirounga angustirostris1,799
  7. Mule Deer Odocoileus hemionus1,332
  8. Risso's Dolphin Grampus griseus1,260
  9. Brush Rabbit Sylvilagus bachmani1,085
  10. Common Bottlenose Dolphin Tursiops truncatus635

Insects

  1. Monarch Danaus plexippus712
  2. Western Honey Bee Apis mellifera563
  3. Seven-spotted Lady Beetle Coccinella septempunctata417
  4. Painted Lady Vanessa cardui289
  5. Pictured Rove Beetle Thinopinus pictus266
  6. Western Sheep Moth Hemileuca eglanterina240
  7. West Coast Lady Vanessa annabella230
  8. Field Crescent Phyciodes pulchella213
  9. California Lady Beetle Coccinella californica207
  10. Convergent Lady Beetle Hippodamia convergens205

Reptiles

  1. Western Fence Lizard Sceloporus occidentalis2,359
  2. Western Terrestrial Garter Snake Thamnophis elegans471
  3. Gopher Snake Pituophis catenifer217
  4. Southern Alligator Lizard Elgaria multicarinata211

Fish

  1. Woolly Sculpin Clinocottus analis2,484
  2. Common Mola Mola mola921
  3. Cabezon Scorpaenichthys marmoratus811
  4. Monkey-faced Prickleback Cebidichthys violaceus741
  5. Blue Rockfish Sebastes mystinus583
  6. Fluffy Sculpin Oligocottus snyderi529
  7. Kelp Rockfish Sebastes atrovirens467
  8. Tidepool Sculpin Oligocottus maculosus461
  9. Lingcod Ophiodon elongatus441
  10. Painted Greenling Oxylebius pictus434

Mollusks

  1. Opalescent Nudibranch Hermissenda opalescens8,661
  2. Spotted Dorid Triopha maculata5,971
  3. Hopkins' Rose Nudibranch Ceratodoris rosacea4,983
  4. California Mussel Mytilus californianus4,771
  5. Monterey Dorid Doris montereyensis4,406
  6. San Diego Dorid Diaulula sandiegensis4,279
  7. Black Tegula Tegula funebralis3,737
  8. White-speckled Dorid Doriopsilla fulva3,182
  9. Mossy Chiton Mopalia muscosa3,155
  10. Noble Dorid Peltodoris nobilis3,048

How a trip works

A trip has its own trail of lessons: meet six species, match them to new photos, then practice with four choices. Species you learn go into your Fieldbook, and starting a trip earns its Passport stamp. Your home place stays as it is.

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Species lists and counts from research-grade observations on iNaturalist, as of October 2026. KnowKi is not affiliated with NOAA or any area's managers. Free, with no ads, no account and no purchases.